Elderly tree protesters - one 93 years old - being evicted from apartments

Jeff Malachowski

Friday

Sep 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 26, 2008 at 5:50 PM

The housing authority is tossing three elderly women one of them 93 years old from their Francis Gardens apartments after they protested plans to cut down a tree and kept items on their porches against policy.

The housing authority is tossing three elderly women - one of them 93 years old - from their Francis Gardens apartments after they protested plans to cut down a tree and kept items on their porches against policy.

Helen Jarzobski, 93, Lea Perrone, 74, and Pat Henry, 65, received eviction notices on Tuesday from Dennis Osborn, the executive director of the Shrewsbury Housing Authority and a constable. The women have 30 days to leave their apartments.

However, a hearing on the matter has been scheduled for Monday in Worcester Housing Court.

Perrone and Henry said they are being evicted because they prevented a contracted tree service from cutting down a crab apple tree, which stands in front of their apartment building, by tying themselves to the tree last week.

Last year, a woman fell on cracked pavement near the Dumpster and broke her arm, said Perrone. Instead of replacing the pavement, the housing authority planned to cut down a crab apple tree in front of Henry's and Perrone's building and move the Dumpster there, said Perrone.

Osborne did not return calls seeking comment on the evictions.

"We'd never cut that tree down," said Henry. "It's a beautiful tree, so I said I'll tie myself to that tree. Why would anyone want to chop down that tree and put a dumpster there?"

"When I wake up every morning, I'd be looking at that Dumpster," said Perrone. "If I wanted to open my windows, I'd have to smell that Dumpster."

Jarzobski said she is being thrown out because she violated the egress-obstruction policy. Instead of removing her chair from the patio, Jarzobski's grandson chained the chair to a pole outside her porch.

"They want me to bring my chair in every day, but I can't move it because I use a walker," said Jarzobski, who has lived at the complex for more than 32 years. "There's no way I can do that. They even had the gall to tell us we couldn't put up Christmas decorations. They have removed everything from my porch. I just feel at my age they shouldn't take anything from me."

Last fall, tenants held signs outside the complex to protest the policy shortly after it went into effect.

The policy states that, "no chairs, tables, flowerpots, wind chimes, flags, mobiles, birdhouses or similar items shall be placed on decks or patios, to hang from gutters, hand railings, trees or the building." All folding chairs and tables must also be removed after they are used.

In the past, Osborn has said the policy was implemented after former Fire Chief Gerald LaFlamme told him the chairs and items were fire hazards.

"Old people can't carry their chairs and tables in and out every day," said Henry. "We all like to sit and have our breakfast and suppers out here and enjoy this beautiful weather. Any man that bullies old people is a punk."

Christopher Uhl, a lawyer representing the three women, said he has been following the case since the spring and expressed disgust over the Housing Authority's decision.

"You can't even fly an American flag outside your home?" Uhl asked. "Just let them live the way that they want to live."

Selectmen Chairman James McCaffrey is disappointed the dispute led to evictions. McCaffrey said the Housing Authority is independent of the town and is free to take any action it deems appropriate.

"I am dismayed that a dispute between some tenants of Francis Gardens and the Housing Authority has escalated to this level," said McCaffrey in a press release. "I call upon the Housing Authority to work with all parties to reach an amicable solution to this dispute quickly."

With the exception of the new policy, the three ladies all agreed they have enjoyed their time at Francis Gardens.

"I love it here," said Perrone. "We all love it here. We've never had a problem before this."

MetroWest Daily News

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.